October 15, 2020

Is Acetaminophen Safe to Take When You’re Drinking?

What really happens when Tylenol and alcohol mix

Acetaminophen after a night of drinking

There are times where festivities abound and, a few drinks later, our heads pound. Some people wonder if it’s bad to take acetaminophen, more commonly known as Tylenol®, for a headache after drinking alcohol.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Hepatologist Christina Lindenmeyer, MD, has the answers.

How does your liver process medications and alcohol?

As it does for many medications, your body metabolizes acetaminophen in the liver. When you take the recommended dosage, most of it is converted by your liver into a benign substance that’s removed in your urine.

Your body converts a very small byproduct of metabolized acetaminophen into a toxic substance that can be harmful to your liver. Luckily, a secondary substance called glutathione helps minimize the toxic effects.

However, if you take too much acetaminophen, or if the liver does not have an abundant reserve of glutathione, the toxic metabolite can accumulate and cause significant damage to your liver.

Advertisement

Alcohol is also metabolized by liver cells. In fact, both acetaminophen and alcohol utilize glutathione in the liver to temper their toxic effects.

“Over time, chronic, heavy alcohol intake depletes your liver of its glutathione stores, which can lead to problems when acetaminophen is added to the mix,” Dr. Lindenmeyer says.

Will Tylenol after a few drinks harm your liver?

Typically, taking a normal dose of acetaminophen (no more than 4,000 mg in a day) after one night of drinking should not cause liver damage. However, regular, heavy alcohol use (more than one drink daily for women or more than two drinks daily for men) combined with repeated daily doses of acetaminophen predisposes the liver to acetaminophen-associated toxicity.

In general, if you’re going to drink at a party or other social event and you take a couple of doses of acetaminophen the next day for your headache (again, no more than 4000 mg in a day), you should be fine.

Advertisement

However, if you regularly drink more than the recommended number of alcoholic drinks per day, you’d be best off to only use acetaminophen in rare instances and avoid daily doses greater than 4,000 mg. ​

Related Articles

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line.
February 23, 2023
Is It Safe To Take Acetaminophen With Ibuprofen?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain control and fever reduction

Pregnant woman holding a glass of water in one hand and a pill in the other.
February 16, 2022
Pregnancy: Does Too Much Acetaminophen Heighten Risk for Autism or ADHD?

Limit how often you take the pain reliever during your pregnancy

ibuprofen or acetomenaphine
January 5, 2021
Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen: Which Works Better?

Who reigns supreme in the battle of the painkillers?

Colonscopy exam showing light inside colon
March 15, 2024
How Safe Are Colonoscopies?

They might not be fun, but colonoscopies are low-risk, high-reward procedures

Female and male waking up with hangovers in aftermath of a party
March 13, 2024
Hangover Pills Aren’t Worth the Hype

Misleading claims, lack of scientific evidence and the risk of over-doing it are all concerns

Counter top with healthy foods and meal prepping
March 11, 2024
Living With Celiac Disease? Make Time for Self-Care

It’s more than just avoiding gluten — it’s also important to focus on your mental and emotional health

person eating a small lunch alone at desk at the office
March 8, 2024
How To Cope With Ulcerative Colitis at Work

Talk to your employer, ask for accommodations and manage your stress

person speaking with healthcare provider in office
March 4, 2024
Ulcerative Colitis and Your Mental Health

Seeking help through therapy can be an important step in improving your quality of life when you have UC

Trending Topics

White bowls full of pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and various kinds of nuts
25 Magnesium-Rich Foods You Should Be Eating

A healthy diet can easily meet your body’s important demands for magnesium

Woman feeling for heart rate in neck on run outside, smartwatch and earbuds
Heart Rate Zones Explained

A super high heart rate means you’re burning more than fat

Spoonful of farro salad with tomato
What To Eat If You’ve Been Diagnosed With Prediabetes

Type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable with these dietary changes

Ad